Indiana building departments
Find local permit offices, inspection services, and official resources across Indiana.
How permitting works in Indiana
Statewide rules, local permits, state design releases. Indiana building codes are state rules, and local building departments issue permits. Commercial and other Class 1 buildings also need a state construction design release before work begins.
A county name is only a geographic starting point. Depending on the address, a city, town, borough, township, or county office may issue your permit. How to check who issues your permit.
Indiana building codes and licensing
- Residential code
- 2020 Indiana Residential Code (2018 IRC with Indiana amendments, 675 IAC 14-4.4); effective December 26, 2019
- Commercial code
- 2014 Indiana Building Code (2012 IBC with Indiana amendments, 675 IAC 13-2.6); effective December 1, 2014
- Outside city limits
- Local building departments issue permits where they exist. Statewide, IDHS issues construction design releases for Class 1 structures (buildings used by the public, three or more tenants, or employees), and its code officials inspect Class 1 structures.
- Contractor licensing
- Indiana licenses plumbers at the state level under IC 25-28.5. The Professional Licensing Agency's profession list does not include a general contractor or electrical contractor license. Indiana Professional Licensing Agency – Plumbing Commission (opens in a new tab)
What is different in Indiana
- Before building or altering a Class 1 structure, the owner or design professional must obtain a state Construction Design Release from IDHS; IDHS responds within 10 business days of a complete filing.
- Since July 1, 2026, experienced Indiana design professionals can self-certify some plans for release without review, though IDHS may still select them for review.
- Replacing a breaker panel in the same location with similar equipment, including a 100-amp to 200-amp upgrade with no voltage or phase change, generally does not need a state design release.
Indiana department guides
Browse Indiana counties
Adams CountyAllen CountyBartholomew CountyBenton CountyBlackford CountyBoone CountyBrown CountyCarroll CountyCass CountyClark CountyClay CountyClinton CountyCrawford CountyDaviess CountyDearborn CountyDecatur CountyDeKalb CountyDelaware CountyDubois CountyElkhart CountyFayette CountyFloyd CountyFountain CountyFranklin CountyFulton CountyGibson CountyGrant CountyGreene CountyHamilton CountyHancock CountyHarrison CountyHendricks CountyHenry CountyHoward CountyHuntington CountyJackson CountyJasper CountyJay CountyJefferson CountyJennings CountyJohnson CountyKnox CountyKosciusko CountyLaGrange CountyLake CountyLaPorte CountyLawrence CountyMadison CountyMarion CountyMarshall CountyMartin CountyMiami CountyMonroe CountyMontgomery CountyMorgan CountyNewton CountyNoble CountyOhio CountyOrange CountyOwen CountyParke CountyPerry CountyPike CountyPorter CountyPosey CountyPulaski CountyPutnam CountyRandolph CountyRipley CountyRush CountySt. Joseph CountyScott CountyShelby CountySpencer CountyStarke CountySteuben CountySullivan CountySwitzerland CountyTippecanoe CountyTipton CountyUnion CountyVanderburgh CountyVermillion CountyVigo CountyWabash CountyWarren CountyWarrick CountyWashington CountyWayne CountyWells CountyWhite CountyWhitley County
Planning a project in Indiana?
Start with what the model codes say, then confirm local rules with the department that serves your address.